Burglar and fire alarm



J. l.. KRAUs, 2D, Er AL 1,952,079

BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed July 1. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 March 27,1934.

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BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Filed July l. 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JACK Ew/3K12/zus Fkfp, SAu/vpE/as /N l/ENTORS www@ A 'ITO/(NE V15 Patented Mar.27, 1934 UNETED STATES BURGLAR AND FIRE ALARM Jack Lewis Kraus, 2d,

New York, and Fred.

Saunders, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application July 1, 1932, Serial No. 620,460

12 Claims.

. This invention relates generally to improvements in alarm-actuatingstructures, and more specifically to that type of structure regulated todetect disturbances from any one of several critical positions ofmovable bodies. The alarm proper brought into actuation by theabove-mentioned actuating structure may be of a mechanical, chemicaland/or of an electrical nature.

The main object of the invention is to provide an alarm actuatingstructure wherein any unauthorized disturbance from one of severalcritical and predetermined positions of movable bodies is transmitted toany known mechanical, chemical and/or electrical alarm for purposes ofdetection of the said disturbance and/or apprehension of theperpetrators of the same.

Another object of the invention is provision of means in the actuatingstructure permitting the adjustment of any one of several criticalpositions of movable bodies toward detecting unauthorized tamperingtherewith.

. A further object of the invention is to provide means for detectingany unauthorized tampering with the accompanying alarm mechanism.

A further object of the invention is to provide an alarm-actuatingstructure applicable to all bodies adjusted to a critical relativeposition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mechanism whichancillary to the main object serves in a limited way asa fire-alarm. Y

An additional object is the provision of a device or mechanism of thecharacter described which will be simple and inexpensive to manufactureand install and, at the same time, will be highly efficient in use,durable in service and easy to adjust.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will appearhereinafter in the progress of the disclosure. The accompanying drawingsshow an adaptation of the invention for use on window-sashes, it beingunderstood that the invention may be applied as above-mentioned to allmovable bodies adjustable to critical relative positions, such as doors,doors to safes, and the like. In the drawings, corresponding referencecharacters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 1

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation showing all the concomitants ofthe ordinary window-frame with a preferable embodiment of the inventionshown in conjunction therewith;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of Figure 1, partly in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of Figure 1 along the line 3-3thereof. 1

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the accompanyingdrawings, the ordinary and known window-frame and sash elements are nowto be set forth. 10 represents the frame of an upper window-sash, while11 is a windowpane secured therein by the-known method, as by puttying.12 is the corresponding frame of a lower window-sash, having securedtherein window-pane 13. 14 represents awindow-frame with oneof theuprightmembers thereof containing pulley-wheel 15, sash-cord 16 andsash-weight 17, while the vother upright member thereof is similarlyprovided with pulley-wheel 18, sash-cord 19 and sash-weight 2G. 21, asseen by a reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings, shows asash-weight accompanied by a sash-cord 22 for the window-sash notcontemplated or controlled by 15, 16, 17 land 18, 19 and 20,respectively. 23 represents one of the sash-weight compartments ofwindow-frame 14, being situated along one of the upright and verticalmembers of the said window-frame.

As a feature of the invention herein, 24 represent a series of spacedand countersunk depressions, preferably inr vertical alignment and alongan upright member of the frame of window-sash 10. Afri-Xed in thesecountersunk depressions are swinging eyelets 25, which, when ininoperative condition, lie in a plane parallel to and spaced inwardlyfrom the plane of the outer surface of the frame of the saidWindow-sash,all as best shown in Figure 2.0i the accompanying drawings.The purpose of such construction is to afford unhampered relativemovement of the windowsashes when the alarm mechanism is inoperative.

On the inner surface of the upright member of window-frame 14 is afiixedan eyelet 26 suitably spaced above the top of the frame of lowerwindow-sash 12 and being preferably in transverse alignment with thelowermost of the countersunk depressions 24, each provided with swingingeyelets 25. .Y

It is seen by a reference to Figure l, and in conjunction with mattershereinafter to be disclosed, that the horizontal line passing througheyelet 26 determines the maximum distance that lower window-sash 12 canbe raised.

The position of eyelet 26 secured to face 5) therefore becomes a matterof choice limited only by the desired and maximum open position of lowerwindow-sash 12.

Attention is now directed to an ordinary and mechanical bellringingmechanism, which serves as a cooperating structure of the invention. 27represents a casing, preferably rectangular and Y trat-ing the undersurface of casing 27.

closed in on all sides. The said casing is preferably arxed to the outersurface of the upright portion of window-frame 14 and near the topthereof, as shown in Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings. The bellringing mechanism comprises a main or driving gear 28 surrounding a maingear shaft 29, the said shaft 29 being journaled between the upper andlower members of casing 27. 29*L is a winding member for 29 andprotrudes from the lower surface of casing 27. 30 is a ratchet wheelkeyed to the shaft 29 and situated below gear 28. 31 is a pawl pivotedto the end surface of gear 28 and engaging with the teeth of the saidratchet wheel` 30. 32 is a clock spring, one end of which is affixed toshaft 29, while the other end is axed to shaft 33, the latter beingsuitably spaced from the main gear shaft 29 and similarly journaled. 34is a small gear keyed to shaft 35 and being provided with a concentricand toothed hub 36 thereabove to engage with the teeth of the main ordriving gear 28. Shaft 35 is suitably spaced from shaft 29 and similarlyjournaled.

37 is any known and usual escapement used in mechanically ringing bellmechanisms and is pivoted to rock about pin 38 when the said escapementis in a condition to engage with the teeth of gear 34. 39 is an armaffixed to escapement 37 and terminates in a bell hammer 40.

When escapement arm 39 is set into vibration,

bell hammer 40 is similarly actuated into lvibration and strikes bell orgong 4l aixed to an end face of casing 27. 42 is a vertically slidablelever within collar 43, the said lever pene- The 42 is provided with anorice, as best shown in Figure 2 o-f the accompanying drawings, toengage actuating arm 44, the downward movement of which unlocks arm 39and thus eifectuates the ringing of the bell.

The bell -ringing mechanism above-described operates according to theusual and known physicaland mechanical principles. From Figure 3 oftheaccompanying drawings, it is seen that when shaft 29 is wound up, spring32 is put into tension and is prevented from unwinding by reason ofratchet wheel 30 and pawl 3l. In the winding of shaft 29, main drivinggear 28 is kept in locked position by reason of the fixed position ofgear wheel 34 brought about by the locked 'i position 'of escapement 37.When lever 42 is lowered by reason of downward pressure on arm 44,escapement arm 39 permits escapement 37 to rock by the alternateengagement and disengagement with the teeth` of wheel 34.

' lowering of the window-sashes and in turn actuating the bell alarmcomprises preferably a vertically slidable Vbar 48 sliding up and downalong an enclosed track 47. 45 is a plate affixed preferably to theouter surface of thefu'pright portion of window-frame 14and proximate-tothe' side of the aforementioned located mechanisms, while plate 46superimposing plate 45 provides vertically and centrally thereof theenclosed track 47, as shown best by a reference to Figure 1 of theaccompanying drawings.

Vertically slidable bar 48 proximate to its upper terminal is providedwith an orice to receive a screw to engage the lower terminal ofactuating arm 44, while the said bar 48 near its lower terminal isprovided with convergent excavated portion 50. Enclosed track 47 isprovided with a corresponding excavation 49. 5l is a pivotal andpreferably U-shaped latch, which is adapted to penetrate excavation 50through excavation 49, when it is desired to keep vertically slidablebar 48 in locked and in non-actuating condition. 5la is an ear used forthe positioning of pivotal latch 5l., pivoting about transverselyarranged screws 52. By a reference to Figure 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, it is seen that the lower portion of vertically slidable bar48 extends beyond the bottom of enclosed track 47, when bar 48 is innon-actuating and locked condition.

58 are a pair of transversely arranged ears projecting outperpendicularly from plate 46 and being provided with horizontal andaligned orifices to serve as the bearings fora latching arm 54.

is a collar surrounding latching arm 53 and being in fixed engagementtherewith by reason of set screw 56. The upper surface of collar 55 ispreferably flat and supports the bottom of vertically slidable bar 48when the latter is in locked and nonactuated condition, as best shown bya reference to Figure l of the accompanying drawings. arm 54 and beingjournale-:l between a side of collar 55 and one of the ears 53 proximateto eyelet 26. 58 is a cable made of either metallic or nonrnetallicmaterial, which is affixed at one terminal to the outer end of latchingarm 54, while the other terminal is attached preferably to a hook 59,which engages with swinging eyelet 25.

Before describing the modus operandi of the complete system, we wishitdistinctly understood that the intermediate mechanism just describedderiving actuation by the movement of the window-sashes and, in" turn,actuating the alarm mechanism hasbeen described for .purposes ofdisclosure only and that minor variations and in- 57 is a helical springsurrounding latching tegrations of the several parts and locations l jthereof may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.The foregoing statement equally applies to the series of alignedstructures represented by numerals 24 and 25.

As shown on Figure l of the accompanying drawings, 'cable 58 is adjustedto the critical position ofthe upper wlndow-sashwhen closed. It

is easily seen `that upon lowering window-sash i 19, pressure is broughton cable 58, thereby withdrawing latching arm 54. The withdrawing oflatching arm 54 withdraws collar 55 until vertically slidable bar 48 `nolonger rests on the upper surface of the said collar. action .of gravityoperating on the weight of the bar 48 causes the samev to fall andthereby creating a `downward. tension on actuating arm 44. The downwardtension on actuating arm 44 lowers lever 42, the upper portion of whichbeing conical releases escapement arm V39, thereby causing theV alarm"mechanism, whether it be electrical or mechanical, to operate.

lAlthough Fbar 48, as described,` operates by its own weight in drawing.actuating arm 44 down- At such time the wardly, the inventioncontemplates also the use of a spring bearing against the top of thesaid arm to substitute for the action of gravity. This spring structurehas not been deemed necessary to be shown on the accompanying drawings.

The mode of operation just described ispossible only when U-shaped latch51 is altogether Withdrawn from the position shown in Figure 2 of theaccompanying drawings for it is readily seen that with U-.shaped latch51 in the excavated portions of bar 48 and track 47, bar 48` cannotlower itself through the action of gravity. The locking devices of theintermediate mechanism represented by numerals 49, 50 and 5l should bein locking position only when cable 58 is detached from any one ofswinging eyelets 25.

If it is desired that the critical position of the upper Window-sash beother than at maximum height, locking latch 51 is put into the positionshown in Figure 2, hook 59 is detached from swinging eyelet 25 andupperWindow-sash 10 is lowered to the desired critical position. At this newposition, hook 59 is attached to one of the upper of swinging eyelets25. Thereafter locking latch 5l is Withdrawn from excavations 49 and 50.l

The purpose of helical spring 57 is to provide protection in the eventthat cable 58 is unlawfully tampered with, as by cutting. In such event,tension of spring 57 will cause collar 55 to go outwardly and frombeneath the bottom of vertically slidable bar 48, thus actuating theringing of an alarm. And in addition, in the event that cable 58, if itbe composed of fireperishable material, should be broken by reason ofaccidental re, an-alarm would be setl into operation. y

As has been-mentioned in the beginning, the lower Casement or the lowerWindow-sash, in accordance with the present invention has apredeterminably adjustable critical position. This positionis defined bythe height of cable 58 above the upper surface of the frame of the lowerWindow-sash.

By referring to Figure l, actuating arm 44 and bar 48 may be consideredthe elements of a suspended Weight supported on collar or rest 55. Thetranslocation of by the disturbance of the critical position of anymovable body such as sash 1l is effectuated by leverage means or anycoil, leaf or other spring means. The translocation of rest 55 releasesweight or bar 48, thereby causing a downward pressure on lever 42through the interaction of lever arm 44.

We claim:

1. In combination with an alarm, an alarmactuating structure forrelatively movable bodies comprising, a gravity-acting controllingmember for the alarm and depending therefrom, a reciprocable rest forthe said controlling and depending member, and connecting means betweenthe said reciprocable rest and the said movable body in any critical andrelative position arranged such that upon change in tension on the saidconnecting means, the gravity-acting controlling member is released toactuate the alarm.

2. In combination with an alarm, an alarmactuating structure forrelatively movablebodies comprising, a downwardly-directed controllingmember for the alarm and depending therefrom, a reciprocable restnormally supporting the said controlling and depending member, andconnecting means between the said reciprocable rest and the said movablebody in any critical and relative position arranged such that uponchange in tension on the said connecting means, the downwardly-directedcontrolling member is released to actuate the alarm.

3. In combination with an alarm, an alarmactuating structure forrelatively movable bodies comprising, a downwardly-directed controllingmember for the alarm and depending therefrom, a movable rest normallyadapted to support the said controlling and depending member, lockingmeans to render the said rest immovable, and connecting means betweenthe said movable rest and the said movable body when in any critical andrelative position arranged such that upon change in tension on the saidconnecting means, the downwardly-directed controlling member is releasedto actuate the alarm.

4. In combination with an alarm, an alarmactuating structure forrelatively movable bodies comprising, a downwardly-directed controllingmember for the alarm and depending therefrom, a movable rest normallyadapted to support the said controlling and depending member, andconnecting means between the said movable rest and the said movable bodywhen in any critical and relative position arranged such that uponchange in tension on the said connecting means, the downwardly-'directedcontrolling member is released to actuate the alarm.

5. An alarm attachment for windoW-sashes comprising in combination, analarm mechanism, alarm-controlling elements therefor and dependingtherefrom, a reciprocable rest for the said alarm-controlling elementsand normally adapted to prevent the alarm from actuation, and connectingmeans between the said rest andany predetermined critical and relativeposition of a Window-sash arranged such that upon movement of the saidwindow-sash, the alarm-controlling elements are released to actuate thesaid alarm mechanism.

6. An alarm attachment for window-sashes comprising in combination, analarm mechanism,

alarm-controlling elements therefor and depending therefrom, a memberprovided with a spring and having a support for the said alarm-con- 1trolling elements and normally adapted to prevent the alarm fromactuation, connecting means between the said member and anypredetermined critical and relative position of a Windowsash arrangedsuch that upon change in tension on the said connectingineans, thealarm-controlling elements are released to actuate the saidalarm-mechanism.

"1. An alarm attachment for upper and lower WindoW-sashes comprising incombination, an alarm mechanism, alarm-controlling elements therefor anddepending therefrom, a movable member having a reciprocable rest for thesaid alarm-controlling elements and normally adapted to prevent thealarm from actuation, and connecting means between the said rest and anypredetermined critical and relative position of the said Window-sashsuch that upon the movement of the Window-sash from its criticalposition and/or any movement of the complementary Window-sash, thealarm-controlling elements are released to actuate the said alarmmechanism.

8. An alarm attachment for relatively movable bodies comprising incombination an alarm mech- 1 anism, alarm-controlling elements thereforand depending therefrom, a reciprocable rest for the saidalarm-controlling elements and normallyY adapted to prevent the alarmfrom actuation, locking means for the alarm-controlling elements, andconnecting means between the said rest and any predetermined criticaland relative position of a body such that upon change in tension on thesaid connecting means, the alarmcontrolling elements are released toactuate the said alarm mechanism.

9. In an alarm attachment for relatively movable bodies and incombination with an alarm mechanism having a controlling membertherefor, an actuating mechanism for the said controlling membercomprisinor a downwardly-directed member depending from the saidcontrolling member, a supporting body for the said downwardly-directedmember, and connecting means between the said supporting body and anypredetermined critical and relative position or" a movable body suchthat upon change in tersion on the said connecting means, thedownwardly-directed member depresses the controlling member of the alarmmechanism setting the same into actuation.

10. In an alarm attachment for window-sashes having an alarm-mechanismwith a controlling member therefor, an actuating mechanism for the saidcontrolling member comprising, a slidable Weight and bearing therefor,the said slidable weight at the upper portion thereof being connected tothe said controlling member, a latching member and 'bearings therefor,the said latching member being provided with a supporting lug for thesupport of the above-said slidable weight, a spring for the saidlatching member journaled between the said supporting lug and one of thebearings, and connecting means between the said latching member and apredetermined and critical position of a window-sash arranged such thatupon change in tension of the connecting means, the slidable weight isreleased to actuate the alarm mechanism.

1l. In an alarm attachment for window-sashes having an alarm-mechanismwith a controlling member therefor, an actuating mechanism for the saidcontrolling member comprising, a slidable weight and bearing therefor,the said slidable weight at the upper portion thereof being connected tothe said controlling member, locking means for the said slidable weight,a latching member and bearings therefor, the said latching member beingprovided with a supporting lug for the support of the above-saidslidable weight, and connecting means between the said latching memberand a predetermined and critical position of a window-sash arranged suchthat upon any change in tension of the connecting means, the slidableweight is released to actuate the alarm mechanism.

12. In an alarm attachment for window-sashes having an alarm-mechanismwith a controlling member therefor, an actuating mechanism for the saidcontrolling member comprising, a slidable weight and bearing therefor,the said slidable weight at the upper portion thereof being connected tothe said controlling member, locking means for the said slidable weight,a latching member and bearings therefor, the said latching member beingprovided with a supporting lug for the support of the above-saidslidable weight, a spring ier the said latching member journaled betweenthe said supporting lug and one of the bearings, and connecting meansbetween the said latching-member and a predetermined and criticalposition of a window-sash arranged such that upon any change in tensionof the connecting means, the slidable weight is released to actuate thealarm mechanism.

JACK LEWIS KRAUS, II. FRED. SAUNDERS.

